The world would be a better place if we all took time to meditate.
We have a chance to try it in a group setting Tuesday afternoon (today!) with a global meditation right here in Tucson. This particular hour-long session will be held all over the world, with Tucson’s version at Tucson Yoga.
What: Global group meditation
When: Doors open 3 p.m. Tuesday (today), 60 minute meditation starts 3:19 p.m.
Where: Tucson Yoga, 12th Street and South Fourth Avenue, northwest corner
Why: Because it makes the world a better place
Yes, it’s free
Click here for more on the global event
Taking as few as 10 minutes – OK, make it five – to sit quietly every day can make a huge difference. I began the practice of mediation about 10 years ago and have been transformed from a perpetually discombobulated, negative person into an occasionally discombobulated, positive person.
You, too, can do it in three easy steps: Sit down, shut up and breathe.
I’ve also started some days without meditation and got disastrous results. These included but were not limited to: missing an airplane, having to repack dozens of boxes that were thrown together haphazardly instead of systematically, falling off a cliff. Well, I didn’t fall off a cliff, but I could have had I not been grounded by meditation.
Folks don’t meditate for many reasons, but one is the myth that they don’t have the time. Starting the day in a calm, soothing way will actually help the brain function more productively, ultimately saving you time throughout the day.
Things are less scattered and tragic. You focus on positive energy rather than worry about the sink overflowing while defrosting raw chicken. You can block out long bus rides, boring board meetings and even a movie you hate when you meditate.
Other meditation myths:
Meditation is for sissies. Folks who take time out to soothe their soul are going to be stronger than the average man – or woman.
I can’t meditate because I don’t want to chant. Then don’t. No rule says you have to chant. Meditation has no “rules” about anything.
Meditation is for Buddhists. No religious beliefs are involved at all in meditation. You can meditate as an atheist. Or a Satanist. Or following Wicca. Or with no religious convictions whatsoever. There is a huge difference between spirituality and religion. Spirituality puts you in touch with the universe. Religion, well, let’s not get into that.
I can’t meditate because I can’t sit in the lotus position. No matter. You can sit on the floor with your legs crossed, on a chair with your feet flat on the ground. You can even lie down and meditate. Heck, you can even engage in walking mediation with or without your dogs.
Meditation also gives you the ultimate excuse to use incense. If you’re lucky enough, you may have room to set aside a whole room for a mediation chamber where you can chill out and decompress in secret, blocking out the chaos of the world that infringes upon what really matters.
What do you think?
Have you engaged in meditation?
How do you go about it?
What were the results?
Do you think the practice is creepy?
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Mornin’ Rynski! Meditation sounds like a fine way to start your day. I’ve never tried it, but at least it is an activity that doesn’t require vast expenditures of cash to make it happen.(like all those info-mertials) Now if I could just find someone to show me how it’s done…
Mornin’ RadMax! Meditation is great and, if you DO want it to cost lots of money, you can always pretend you need to meditate on some exotic mountaintop. That’s the beauty of meditation – you adapt and adjust it to your own personal taste. No $19.99 info materials needed. I’d be glad to pass along my own meditation tips and tricks – for only $9.99 (haha – you’d be gettin’ a bargain!)
Throw in some personal instruction, I’ll make it an even 10 bucks-deal? 🙂
You got it!
Tell me what “flavor” incense you like – I always laugh when people say incense comes in flavors, as if you are supposed to eat it. Well, Sawyer thinks you’re supposed to eat it….
Been awhile since I ‘required’ any incense…seems like there was one called Gonesh cones? Believe it was just called ocean. Sawyer seems to like just about anything….
what a player…lol
Ocean it is. Sawyer likes the water. He also flips out over sage. We went to the Fourth Ave street fair where one woman was selling sage and he nearly knocked her table down trying to get at it.
There is nothing as wonderful and transformative as a ten day silent vipassana meditation retreat. Warning: it’s not for the weak-minded or sissies! http://www.dhamma.org
Also check out the movies:
Doing Time, Doing Vipassana and The Dhamma Brothers.
Wow – I can only imagine the transformation! That’s gotta be wonderful. TEN DAYS of total silence…I get giddy just thinking about it haha. I’m going to have to put that on my future to do list.
Hmmmm… It is very difficult for me ot quiet my mind, but I continue to try! My second meditation is sitting outdoors in the morning with my cup o’ joe! Soothes the soul!
Sometimes just being outdoors can be a meditation. Glad you enjoy it. Quieting the mind gets easier with practice.
I also have a hard time getting my brain to chill out. It keeps me awake!
What helps me quiet my brain when nothing seems to are guided meditation CDs. I have this whole series I call “trance man” as this man talks you through a meditation with sound patterns in the background that actually put you in a trance. Way cool. If it sounds kooky, that’s because it is. But I love it. Do not use while driving. Here’s a link: Hemi-Sync
I actually just concentrate on my breathing and nothing else… inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale…
Are you asleep yet?
Meditate, combobulate.
Hey! More rhyming lyrics!…love it!
I’m so glad to see someone else in this community that knows about today’s worldwide meditation! I plan on participating as well. I agree…..meditation if a big part of mental health!
oops! Spelled my name wrong above…..it’s just me!
Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum Ommm – Mani – Padme – Hum
Hell yeah, that would put anybody to sleep…
“There is not a single aspect of the eighty-four thousand sections of the Buddha’s teachings which is not contained in Avalokiteshvara’s six syllable mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”, and as such the qualities of the “mani” are praised again and again in the Sutras and Tantras…. Whether happy or sad, if we take the “mani” as our refuge, Chenrezig will never forsake us, spontaneous devotion will arise in our minds and the Great Vehicle will effortlessly be realized.”
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
— Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/OM_MANI_PADME_HUM.svg